Refinery Operator

Refinery Operator

Support safe refinery operations while learning the processes that help produce materials the world needs. Join a close, safety-focused team with paid training and opportunities to progress through Rio Tinto qualifications. Work a rotating 12-hour schedule at our Kennecott refinery near Salt Lake City, Utah, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays.

At Rio Tinto, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to succeed. We actively encourage applications from women and from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We know that great capability comes in many forms, and we are focused on building teams that reflect the communities we operate in and support each other to do their best work.

We're Finding Better Ways to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values - care, courage and curiosity - guide how we work and how we treat each other.

About the role

We are looking for a Refinery Operator to join our Precious Metals department at the Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper Refinery. Refining experience is not required, as training will be provided to help you learn the processes, equipment, and safety standards needed to succeed in the role. This is a great opportunity for a motivated and safety-focused individual to work in a close team environment while developing skills through Rio Tinto training qualifications and progressing in pay as qualifications are completed. This role works a rotating 12-hour schedule, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays, on a 4 on/4 off rotation with approximately two weeks of days and two weeks of nights.

The work environment can be hot, dusty, humid, and physically demanding. The role includes working around chemicals, acid, and caustic materials, wearing required PPE, completing respirator fit testing requirements, remaining clean shaven every day is required for respirator fit, climbing stairs, ladders, and scaffolding, and working in confined spaces.

Reporting to the Shift Supervisor and working in a diverse refinery team, you will be trained to:

• Perform operating duties in the refining process while working safely around automated equipment, forklifts, chemicals, and refinery systems
• Follow standard operating procedures, critical risk controls, and required PPE expectations to support safe and reliable operations
• Actively care for your own safety and the safety of your teammates every hour of every shift
• Monitor equipment and work areas, communicate concerns, and support safe handover of work activities
• Work in a hot, dusty, humid, and physically active refinery environment, including stairs, ladders, scaffolding, and confined spaces
• Participate in training, qualification activities, and continuous learning to build refinery operating capability

About you

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• High school diploma or GED and minimum 18 years of age to align with Rio Tinto Safety Standards for this role
• Valid driver's license
• Ability and commitment to work a rotating 12-hour schedule, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays on a 4 on/4 off rotation
• Ability to meet daily respirator fit requirements, including being clean shaven where required for respirator use, and work safely around chemicals, acid, and caustic materials
• Ability to perform physically demanding work, including climbing stairs, ladders, scaffolding, working in confined spaces, and wearing required PPE in hot, dusty, and humid conditions

Transferable experience from processing, oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, construction, refining, agriculture, hospitality, healthcare, airlines or transportation, warehousing, or logistics may be helpful in this role. Even if your profile does not fully meet all qualifications, we encourage you to apply; transferable skills and the right attitude are highly valued.

This role is open to candidates who are legally authorized to work in the United States. We are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

What we offer

Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you've helped the world progress.

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus
• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits
• Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution and a generous 401(k) matching program
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life, including paid time off, paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
• A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you are able to spend quality time with your new family
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life's challenges

Where you'll be working

Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, tellurium, and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903 and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production.

About Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can't do it on our own, so we're focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Respect and Inclusion

Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.

Rio Tinto participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit for more information.